Former Northborough parish priest pleads not guilty

Wednesday

Aug 27, 2014 at 10:51 AMAug 27, 2014 at 5:17 PM

By Kendall HatchDaily News staff

WORCESTER - The former priest of a Northborough parish pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he embezzled $240,000 from the church and its associated school to feed a gambling addiction.Stephen Gemme, the former priest at St. Bernadette, was charged with five counts of larceny over $250 by a single scheme, but at Gemme's arraignment in Worcester Superior Court, prosecutor John O'Leary said the priest funneled $240,000 from parish accounts over the course of five years.O'Leary did not request bail for Gemme, saying that the priest has been in steady communication with authorities and has local ties.Judge Janet Kinton-Walker ordered Gemme released on personal recognizance.Gemme's attorney, Carol Wheeler, said after the arraignment that she could not comment on the allegations against him, but said the proceedings "went as smoothly as we could have possibly expected."We're both relieved that everything seems to be in order so far," she said. "Father Gemme is taking the allegations very seriously and is working on whatever he needs to work on."She said Gemme is living with his parents in Westminster.He resigned his position with the church last fall when the accusations came to light.Worcester Bishop Robert McManus wrote in a letter on the parish’s website last year that unauthorized spending in one of the parish’s accounts raised flags with an advisory board member, who alerted McManus.The next day, Gemme "acknowledged a gambling problem" during a meeting with McManus, the bishop wrote. McManus then revoked Gemme’s authority to sign checks and placed him on medical leave.McManus said a subsequent audit showed that Gemme had used more than $110,000 of the school’s money and $120,000 from the parish for personal expenses.Gemme was joined in court Wednesday by a number of supporters, including two priests. Robert Kane, a Worcester resident and event organizer in Marlborough, said he came to court to offer his support to Gemme, who he knew from his time as assistant pastor at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Worcester.Speaking outside the courthouse Wednesday, Kane said Gemme was very well-liked while he was at St. Joan of Arc and Kane said he was "shocked" to hear about the allegations."What I know of him, he was a great guy," Kane said. "Gambling is a disease. It's a sickness."Kendall Hatch can be reached at 508-490-7453 or khatch@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kendall_HatchMW.

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